In re Kraft Heinz Demand Refused Derivative Stockholder Litigation

• Court: Court of Chancery of Delaware
• Decided: September 5, 2023
• Docket: 2022-0398-LWW
• Status: Published

Opinion

COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE LORI W. WILL LEONARD L. WILLIAMS JUSTICE CENTER VICE CHANCELLOR 500 N. KING STREET, SUITE 11400 WILMINGTON, DELAWARE 19801-3734

September 5, 2023

Carmella P. Keener, Esquire Michael A. Pittenger, Esquire Cooch and Taylor, P.A. Jacqueline A. Rogers, Esquire 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1500 Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP Wilmington, Delaware 19899 1313 N. Market Street Hercules Plaza, 6th Floor P. Bradford deLeeuw, Esquire Wilmington, Delaware 19801 deLeeuw Law LLC 301 Walnut Green Road Wilmington, Delaware 19807

RE: In re Kraft Heinz Demand Refused Derivative Stockholder Litigation, C.A. No. 2022-0398-LWW

Dear Counsel,

I have reviewed the parties’ submissions regarding defendant 3G Capital

Inc.’s Motion to Bifurcate Rule 23.1 and Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss

Proceedings (the “Motion”).1 The “3G Defendants” assert that their arguments

under Rules 23.1 and 12(b)(6) are “independently dispositive” and ask that I

“bifurcate these motions and first consider briefing and argument on the motion to

1 Def. 3G Capital Inc.’s Mot. to Bifurcate Rule 23.1 and Rule 12(b)(6) Mots. to Dismiss Proceedings (Dkt. 57) (“Mot.”); Opp’n to Def. 3G Capital Inc.’s Mot. to Bifurcate Rule 23.1 and Rule 12(b)(6) Mots. to Dismiss Proceedings (Dkt. 60). The “3G Defendants” are 3G Capital, Inc., 3G Capital Partners Ltd., 3G Capital Partners II LP, 3G Global Food Holdings GP LP, 3G Global Food Holdings LP, and HK3 18 LP. Mot. 1. C.A. No. 2022-0398-LWW September 5, 2023 Page 2 of 3

dismiss under Rule 23.1.”2 To the extent that the Motion is not moot, it is denied.

This court “possesses the inherent power to manage its own docket . . . on the

basis of comity, efficiency, or simple common sense.”3 On comity, I am sympathetic

to the complexities and burdens presented by briefing two different sets of dismissal

arguments at once. But efficiency and common sense cut against bifurcation in this

instance. To potentially hold two rounds of motion to dismiss briefing, argument,

and decision-making would risk even greater inefficiency and burdens for the parties

and the court.

At present, it is impossible for me to say whether the defendants’ Rule 23.1

arguments are arguably dispositive such that I need not hear their Rule 12(b)(6)

arguments.4 Often, issues of demand futility (or refusal) are intertwined with the

merits; the court routinely hears Rule 23.1 and Rule 12(b)(6) motions simultaneously

for that reason. If I can promote efficiency in this action by limiting the scope of

2 Mot. ¶ 2. 3 Paolino v. Mace Sec. Intern., Inc., 985 A.2d 392, 397 (Del. Ch. 2009). 4 This is not a situation where threshold jurisdictional issues may prevent the court from addressing substantive matters. E.g., Harris v. Harris, 289 A.3d 310, 343 (Del. Ch. 2023) (deferring consideration of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion until the court ruled on a Rule 12(b)(2) motion and determined that it had personal jurisdiction over the defendant); S’holder Rep. Servs., LLC v. HPI Hldgs., 2023 WL 3092895, at *3 (Del. Ch. Apr. 26, 2023) (resolving a motion for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and improper venue before addressing Rule 12(b)(6) motions). Rule 23.1 may raise questions of standing—but not this court’s power to rule on the defendants’ defenses. C.A. No. 2022-0398-LWW September 5, 2023 Page 3 of 3

oral argument after reviewing the parties’ briefs, I will alert the parties promptly.

For now, the defendants should endeavor to brief all pleading-stage grounds for

dismissal and present them together.5

Accordingly, the Motion is denied. To the extent necessary for this decision

to take effect, IT IS SO ORDERED.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Lori W. Will

Lori W. Will Vice Chancellor

cc: All counsel of record (via File&ServeXpress)

5 I note that the defendants’ opening briefs were filed while the Motion was under submission. Dkts. 64-65, 67.